Observations from the early games:
-Drew Brees continued his M.V.P surge in a 31-13 victory over the hapless Falcons. Brees threw for 349 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Of course, if Brees was throwing against a real NFL secondary, I could give him more credit. Atlanta is terrible. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel against that team. Jim Mora and company should be issued out of Atlanta in the offseason. Mora rarely has his team ready to play and his coordinators’ game plans are an absolute joke. Mora’s father has called Michael Vick a “coach killer”. Well, let me be the first to call Mora and Greg Knapp a “Vick Killer” and the Falcons are lucky that Vick makes enough plays to keep everybody employed in Atlanta.
– What a funny team the Carolina Panthers are. Just when you want to crown them “back”, they choke something mightily against a less-superior team. Sunday it was the three-win Redskins that knocked off the Panthers 17-13. Memo to Jake Delhomme, it’s not always your offensive line, coaches or receivers fault. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Delhomme is nothing without Steve Smith. Congratulations to Jason Campbell, who won his first NFL game as a starter. Campbell didn’t have a huge impact, but he did more than Mark Brunell ever did this season. It’s a shame that Joe Gibbs sat on this kid for so long.
– It’s ironic how the Panthers and Jaguars came into the league together, because they’re like the same team. Just when you’re ready to crown them a good football team, the Jags blow a chance to prove you right. Jacksonville lost to the suddenly hot Buffalo Bills 27-24. J.P. Losman went 21 of 28 for 169 yards and a pick, but led a late charge to secure a win. Jacksonville’s defense, which has been good, better stop its yo-yo performances week to week if this team is going to go anywhere.
– I think the Steelers played in Baltimore Sunday. I say, “think” because I’m not entirely sure given that 30-0 score the Ravens hung on Pittsburgh. Welcome back to earth Ben Roethlisberger
– See above for the Bengals 30-0 victory over the Browns. Who pissed off Chad Johnson the past two weeks?
– Chad Pennington wanted to end his recent slump against the Texans this Sunday and I think he did that in the Jets 26-11 victory. Pennington was 24 of 31 for 286 yards and a touchdown. Pennington did all of that while getting just 27 yards from the rushing department.
– Minnesota hung on to a 31-26 victory…over Arizona. Not that this is college football and you have to blow everybody out, but no Dennis Green-led team should every come within six points of a somewhat decent squad. What a massive day for the quarterbacks in this game. Rookie Matt Leinart passed for over 400 yards and Brad “Elbow Pads” Johnson threw for three touchdowns. Chester Taylor had a good game as well in rushing for 136 yards and a score.
– I’ve got to hand it to the 49ers. Unlike some other teams in the NFL, San Fran gives it all it has for four quarters. The Rams topped the Niners 20-17, but there is nothing to suggest that this team isn’t a playoff team in the near future. The defense has played better and the offense is young and explosive. Frank Gore had another great week in rushing for 134 yards and a touchdown while Steven Jackson rushed for 121 yards and a score. Jackson also had nine receptions for 71 yards.
